Homeland: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1

This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.

Servant of the Shard: Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 1

The Assassin: Surrounded by dark elves, Artemis Entreri tightens his grip on the streets of Calimport. While he urges caution, his black-skinned sponsor grows ever more ambitious. The assassin will soon find himself on a path his most hated enemy has walked before him - a path that leads to a place where someone like Entreri would never be welcome. The Drow: Jarlaxle has ascended from dark Menzoberranzan with only evil intentions. The malevolent Crystal Shard’s influence on him intensifies until even the drow agents he brought with him grow fearful.

The Orc King: Forgotten Realms: Transitions, Book 1

An uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom of Many-Arrows can't last long. The orc tribes united under Obould begin to fight each other, and Bruenor is determined to finish the war that nearly killed him and almost destroyed everything he's worked to build. But it will take more than swords and axes to bring a lasting peace to the Spine of the World.

Canticle: Forgotten Realms The Cleric Quintet Book 1

High in the Snowflake Mountains sits the Edificant Library, a place of scholarly study for priests, bards, and others. Now from the hidden vaults beneath the library a devastating curse is unleashed, and a young cleric must battle the terrifying creatures set loose by a malevolent, consuming essence that's been released, before his own brethren turn against him. Cadderly must put his studies to the test and enter the catacombs far below to save his brothers and himself.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Dragonlance: Chronicles, Book 1

Lifelong friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.

The Companions: Forgotten Realms: The Sundering, Book 1

This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore's beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore's signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt's fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life - the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.

Stone of Tymora

Meet Maimun - an orphan who couldn’t imagine how unfortunate it would be to discover a stone that makes him forever lucky. Fleeing a powerful demon named Asbeel, Maimun stows away aboard the ship Sea Sprite, where he encounters a cast of characters well-known to Salvatore fans: Captain Deudermont, Drizzt Do’Urden, Wulfgar, Catti-brie, and the dwarf Bruenor. Drizzt becomes a mentor to Maimun and aboard Deudermont’s ship, they sail the treacherous seas of the Forgotten Realms.

Dissolution: Forgotten Realms: War of the Spider Queen, Book 1

The War of the Spider Queen begins here. While their whole world is changing around them, four dark elves struggle against different enemies. Yet their paths will lead them all to the most terrifying discovery in the long history of the drow and set them on a quest to save not only Menzoberranzan but the entire dark elf race from Dissolution....

Time of the Twins: Dragonlance: Legends, Book 1

Sequestered in the blackness of the dreaded Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, surrounded by nameless creatures of evil, Raistlin Majere weaves a plan to conquer the darkness - to bring it under his control. Crysania, a beautiful and devoted cleric of Paladine, tries to use her faith to lead Raistlin from the darkness. She is blind to his shadowed designs, and he draws her slowly into his neatly woven trap. Made aware of Raistlin’s plan, a distraught Caramon travels back in time to the doomed city of Istar in the days before the Cataclysm.

Lion's Quest: Dual Wield

With Leo's commitment to Arnacript finalized, the champ announces his retirement to the world and prepares to work full-time on Ohlavar Quest. The challenges in the game world become steeper as Leo sets his eyes on the first of many artifacts, and he joins a dungeon exploration group in an effort to acquire the piece. But forces in the real world don't want the champ to retire from Astafar Unlimited, and they will do whatever it takes to get him back. Even if it means killing his parents.

The Land: Founding: A LitRPG Saga: Chaos Seeds, Book 1

In The Land: Founding, the first volume of the award winning Chaos Seeds saga, demons and angels toy with the lives of unwitting humans. Gamers sign away their souls in unread contracts as they log online each day. One at a time, these people are stolen, mind and soul, into a world of magic and adventure that operates by the same laws as the game they worshiped at for years.

Publisher's Summary

Drizzt Do'Urden has settled in the windswept towns of Icewind Dale. There, he encounters a young barbarian named Wulfgar, captured in a raid and made the ward of a grizzled dwarf name Bruenor. With Drizzt's help, Wulfgar will grow from a feral child to a man with the heart of a dwarf, the instincts of a savage, and the soul of a hero. But it will take even more than that to defeat the demonic power of Crenshininbon, the fabled Crystal Shard.

I could not get into this despite having enjoyed the free Drizzt anthology with the various performers. It felt like the narrator was simply just reading the book. It took me out of the book which wasn't that great to begin with. Lasted maybe 5 hours until I just did not care anymore.

I'm writing this after having finished "Streams of Silver". I appreciate where the story is going and I like the overall effort and tone. The first half is a bit slow for me, but I liked the pacing in the second half of this book.

The performance is good and enjoyable.

I thought the core relationships are a little forced at the beginning of this book. Made me think about how most D&D parties feel a little forced as well at the start and how they need to grow into each other.

If you like D&D fantasy tales, this is a good one that spans the gamut in short time. It sets up the next installment well, which I have enjoyed more than this one.

I listened to the first 3 Drizzt books, And now I am glad to find this new series that carries on his adventures with other heroic characters. I ignored these books back when I used to actually read scifi/fantasy, now I wish I hadn't, excellent yarns. And by far, Bevine is the best narrator for the genre, not a fault can be found -- clear, good tone, his voice adds enthusiasm and excitement during exciting scenes, he does enough voice imitation for different characters to make it clear who is talking, but not corny either. And of course, the story was very good, else I wouldn't give it 5 stars. Highly recommended!

I would definitely listen to this book again. Maybe two or more times. Why? Because the nonstop action and adventure. The way that Salvatore captures the world is profound and detailed and makes me feel like I'm beside the characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character in this book was Brunner. He is witty and stubborn and plays a good prank on drizzt. I couldn't help but laugh and smile whenever he was in the chapter.

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Victor Bevine is an awesome narrator. He makes each character feel distinguished and gives each the charm and/or personality as if he were actually that character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book definitely made me laugh at several parts, as well as bite my nails or even feel disdain at others. Defiantly kept me at the edge of my chair.

Where does The Crystal Shard rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Upper-middle tier.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Like most folks, I really connected with Drizzt. I think many of us have moments where we feel like singular bastions of decency in a world that needs fixing. He is unwaveringly loyal and has a strong moral compass - I can get behind a character like that!

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

I truly enjoyed Mr. Bevine's voice talents for the various characters, along with the ease applied to speaking unusual words and names that are frequent fare in the fantasy genre.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, but that didn't make the story any less enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

I will be getting the balance of the Icewind Dale trilogy, so that says something :-)

Possibly not everyone might be aware of this but these books were set in a Campaign World called the Forgotten Realms, a world created by Ed Greenwood back in the mid eighties for the game Dungeons & Dragons, then owned by TSR.

The D&D franchise was then bought by The Wizards of the Coast and 28 years on since this first book was written by R A Salvatore, yes contrary to what people have said the Crystal Shard Trilogy were the first books published, the D&D 5th edition game has eventually come full circle back to the Realms, one of the most loved settings for the game and it was because of this I decided to listen to this series again to reacquaint myself with the world and its magical appeal.

The book still stands up after all these years, I thoroughly enjoyed it and as my memory is pretty shocking it was as if I was reading them again for the first time.

Looking forward to the rest in the series and then I will move on to The Dark Elf Trilogy, a prequel to the Crystal Shard, there are also two other series called The Legacy of the Drow and Paths of Darkness.

With regards to the Narrators performance my only criticism is his intonation became too monotonous, he finishes every sentence with the same intonation that after a while started to drive me crazy, sorry but I have been spoiled with listening to Stephen Fry performing the Harry Potter books, and thats the difference, there are narrators who just read the books and there are those who actually perform them, unfortunately Victor Bevine isn't the latter.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Amazon Customer

Nottingham, United Kingdom

1/15/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"I do not want to live in a world without dragons..."

The quote is from the next book in the series but summed up the joy and magic if the series so well, I could not resist quoting it.

Brilliant story. Gruesome battles. True hearts.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Mark

1/8/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"A fun tale from start to finish."

I am completely and utterly hooked on the tales of Drizzt. This chapter was another great ride. My only criticism of this book would be of the "by chance" ways in which our hero escapes certain death.

Other than that, this book is a must listen.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Barry Read

1/31/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Fantastic"

Absolutely brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed. This is my first book in this series and I will definitely be listening to more.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.